According to the federal government, recreational cannabis will be legalized sometime in summer 2018. July 1st was previously reported as the date of legalization, but the actual date of legalization may be later in the summer.

As a general rule, municipalities can regulate where certain land uses or activities may occur (‘what can be where’). The City of Nelson will be consulting the public on:

Retail sales: zoning and business licensing to determine where cannabis stores may be located.

Public consumption: identifying where consuming cannabis will be allowed in Nelson. The Clean Air Bylaw restricts where people can smoke or vape tobacco and cannabis. This includes a 7-metre buffer from commercial and public building entranceways, schools, parks, amenity areas, and transit stops. Council wants to know if public consumption should continue to be the same as tobacco or become more restrictive, similar to liquor.

Personal cultivation: the province may allow municipalities to set rules on public visibility and security requirements for growing cannabis plants at home rules to ensure public safety and limited nuisances (such as odours and visibility).

The extent of municipal government’s jurisdiction is determined by the Province. This is especially the case with controlled substances. Upcoming provincial decisions may broaden or restrict the scope of what cities like Nelson will be able to regulate at a local level.

The federal government is involved with most questions around cannabis legalization, such as possession limits, taxation, regulatory compliance, and education. It is also establishing minimum regulatory standards that each province may uphold or further restrict.

In addition to holding the authority to establish stricter regulations than the federal government, the Province is responsible for many matters of implementation, such as how and by whom cannabis may be sold and where it may be consumed.

As of December 2017, the Province of British Columbia has determined that the minimum age to possess, purchase and consume cannabis will be 19, and cannabis will be sold in both publicly- and privately-owned retail locations. In February 2018 the Retail Sales framework was released.

If the City of Nelson does not have local regulations for retail locations in place at the time of legalization, retail outlets with a provincial licence could locate anywhere in Nelson that retail is currently permitted. This includes:

In the downtown core and Baker Street

Along Nelson Avenue and Hwy 3A

In the west waterfront/industrial areas

In Railtown

There is a lot of demand to open cannabis retail outlets in Nelson. This could result in a variety of impacts for retailers, consumers and the public. The City wants to ensure zoning and regulations, such as location and number of retail outlets, are acceptable to residents and businesses in Nelson.

Nelson’s regulations on medical cannabis were temporary measures until cannabis regulations were introduced. The only legal method to obtain it is via mail order. Under the upcoming legislation, retail cannabis outlets must be licensed by the Province and purchase their supply only from the Province. All other outlets will be considered illegal and will be subject to fines and the criminal code.

The provincial and federal governments are regulating non-medical cannabis as the federal government has decided to retain the current rules for medical cannabis stipulating that the only legal method to obtain it is through mail order from licensed production facilities.

With the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes, the City of Nelson is taking the opportunity to consult with the community on where cannabis should be consumed, grown, and sold.

City Council adopted a moratorium on recreational cannabis in January 2018. The moratorium places a freeze on new cannabis businesses as an interim measure to allow time to sufficiently consult with the community leading up to the national legalization of cannabis in summer 2018. This is being done to ensure that the public has a say in the future of cannabis regulations in Nelson.

After consultation and significant deliberation, City Council will make a decision on the regulations that will pertain to legalized cannabis.

Existing medical cannabis dispensaries will not receive preferential treatment or priority. They will be able to apply for a provincial licence in order to continue to operate as a retail cannabis outlet following legalization in summer 2018.

An additional feedback form can be obtained by visiting Development Services, 2nd floor of City Hall at 310 Ward Street, open 8:30am until Noon and 1:30pm until 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Please bring identification and proof-of-address.

If you live within City limits, the form is anticipated to arrive in your mailbox during the week of February 12th. If you have not received one by February 19th, please visit Development Services, 2nd floor of City Hall at 310 Ward Street, open 8.30am until Noon and 1:30pm until 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Please bring identification and proof-of-address.

The City has done its best to ensure that each dwelling unit receives a mailing, but errors may have occurred. Note that home-based businesses will not receive a separate feedback form, as a resident feedback form will be mailed to that address.

In order to ensure the feedback received is as representative as possible of Nelson, a mail-survey will be the only method to provide feedback at the resident-level. By ensuring that each household has an equal chance to provide feedback, the goal is to have statistically significant results.

The City wants to ensure that Nelson residents and businesses have the loudest voice in providing feedback. It is difficult to configure an online survey to ensure that only those who live and own businesses here are able to participate, and participate only one time.

Additional face-to-face events are being held for the public and for community groups related to youth, families, seniors, social services, public health, and business to obtain further feedback and dialogue that might be relevant to these groups.

At this time, no commercial production of cannabis is permitted within City limits.

Once legalized later in 2018, adults 19 and older will be able to grow cannabis at home for personal use, but not for resale. A maximum of four (4) plants will be permitted by federal law. The Province has not determined whether it will adopt further restrictions.

In British Columbia, all non-medical cannabis products will be distributed through the provincial Liquor Distribution Branch. As with alcohol sales, this means that retail businesses will not be permitted to grow their own product or source it from a third-party.

Most cannabis-related concerns around public health and safety fall under federal and provincial jurisdiction. Both of these levels of government have clearly expressed a commitment to harnessing legalization to address existing public health and safety issues with cannabis. This includes their intent to keep cannabis out of the hands of people under the age of 19 and combatting impaired driving. Cannabis is being treated similar to tobacco and will be strictly controlled, included restrictions on branding and advertising.

Smoking and vaping cannabis in Nelson will be limited by our Clean Air Bylaw which includes a 7-metre buffer zone around all public entrances to buildings and no smoking in parks, in the cemetery, in transit stops, or on school or health board properties.

Individuals aged 19 and older will be able to possess up to 30 grams of legal dried cannabis or equivalent in non-dried form, and they will be able to share up to 30 grams with other adults.

Individuals will be able to purchase cannabis from a provincially licensed retailer only if the province has set up a retail system.

The federal government has stated that individuals will be able to grow up to four cannabis plants per household for personal use from licensed seed or seedlings. The Province may also put in further restrictions around number of plants, as well as around public visibility and security requirements and administrative penalties.

Currently, no new cannabis businesses, medical or otherwise, are permitted in Nelson at this time.

The Province is expected to begin accepting applications for provincial licenses prior to July 2018. An applicant will have to meet all local, provincial, and federal regulations. The current medical dispensaries will need to apply for a provincial licence to continue to operate, which requires meeting all local, provincial, and federal regulations. It is anticipated that they will be treated the same as any other applicant.

Even once the federal government has formally legalized cannabis, both the provincial and municipal levels of government will need to have regulations in place before cannabis businesses are authorized to operate. The City of Nelson expects to have new regulations prior to legalization. The public will be thoroughly consulted in the coming months on what those rules could be. All cannabis-related businesses will have to comply with federal, provincial, and municipal regulations and obtain all necessary licencing, including a business licence from the City of Nelson.

It is anticipated that both local government and the public will be able to comment on private retail applications prior to the Province making a decision to approve or deny an application.

The Province has announced that it will operate cannabis stores. Where and how many have not been determined at this time. These outlets will also need to meet local government regulations. Some communities have expressed interest in only allowing government-operated stores.

A simplified process has been designed for Nelson Hydro customers, who are homeowners, to have a home energy evaluation to determine what energy efficiency upgrades (retrofits) can be done to reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions, and to access current rebate offers. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

The EcoSave pilot program for 2012/2013 has been established as one of the key strategies for the City of Nelsons Low Carbon Path to 2040, Community Energy and Emission Action Plan. Due to the success thus far, the program will continue for 2014 and 2015. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

The program objectives are to achieve a savings of 30% for both gas and electricity consumption combined in retrofitted homes. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

The development and implementation of this program has been made possible by funding from, and in no particular order, Nelson Hydro, the City of Nelson, Columbia Basin Trust, FortisBC and Natural Resources Canada. The program continues to be supported by Nelson Hydro, the City of Nelson and FortisBC PowerSense. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

The EcoSave program coordinator is responsible for marketing the program to home and business owners, processing registration, assisting homeowners with the process and evaluation of the program. The coordinator will not make recommendations on energy efficiency retrofits or suggest who should be hired to complete retrofits. The EcoSave program coordinator will support homeowners with the process of the program. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

The owner of the home may register for the program. The home must be located in the Nelson Hydro service area. For access to the current rebates the home may be a rental home, or be partly rented as long as it can accommodate the home energy evaluation tests that are required. Some restrictions may apply. Note: On-bill financing is not available to businesses, if you receive rental income, then it is considered a business. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

A Certified Energy Advisor who is licensed and certified through Natural Resources Canada and working for a service organization. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

The Certified Energy Advisor will mail or email a customized retrofit plan to you. This energy efficiency evaluation report will include all of the recommendations that were discussed during the visit, plus an energy efficiency rating score (EnerGuide label) for your home. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

No. Contractors will not be pre-qualified nor referred for the program. It is the sole decision of the homeowner which contractor to hire. For simplicity we have included a contractor contact list, meant only for convenience. You may choose additional contractors over and above the list. For more information and tips on hiring a contractor go to Canadian Home Builder's Association.

No. It is not a program requirement to complete the recommended retrofits. However, it is the objective of the EcoSave program to encourage Participants to improve energy efficiency by completing some or all of the recommended upgrades. Financial options are provided for Participants in another section. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

By completing some or all of the energy efficiency retrofits, the energy efficiency rating (EnerGuide rating) can be determined at the post-retrofit assessment. An EnerGuide rating shows a standard measure of your home's energy performance. It shows you (and future buyers) exactly how energy efficient your home is. For more information on EnerGuide for Houses visit Energy-efficient homes. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

Yes. It is necessary for the EcoSave program coordinator to collect information for program evaluation, so the Certified Energy Advisor will require you to sign documents at the time of the home energy evaluation. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

If you have completed retrofits that may be eligible for rebates, contact the service provider to schedule a post-retrofit assessment, and if the retrofits are eligible, the Certified Energy Advisor may assist you with the application that is required. You will receive an EnerGuide rating for your home. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

On-bill financing refers to the loan service available through the City of Nelson for eligible energy efficiency upgrades and will be repaid by the Nelson Hydro customer on their utility bill. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

Loans will be approved on payment history and property verification, no personal income/debt/credit details need to be provided. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

On-bill financing can be used for any energy efficiency retrofits that are eligible for rebates, with the addition of water conservation type toilets. Other items and costs that provide a positive energy or water reduction may be determined by the EcoSave coordinator, and may be considered eligible for on-bill financing. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

Yes. It may be necessary to have more than one contractor complete different types of retrofits and at different times. There is a process for receiving progress payments if the work cannot be scheduled in the same time frame. A processing fee of $100 will be applied each time a request for payment is submitted. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

It will be based on the payment history of the past 24 months of the Participants Nelson Hydro utility bill, and verification of ownership of the building and the land. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

The on-bill financing charge will form a component of the Nelson Hydro utility bill and will be subject to the normal utility collection procedures including service disconnects and addition of outstanding amounts to property tax. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

Yes, it is encouraged that work be completed within 6 months of applying for the loan. In certain situations, approval may be given after this time frame. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

No. Depending on the date, you can use an energy evaluation that was completed outside of the program; you will need to determine if you can still access the current rebate program. Home energy evaluations are encouraged for a number of reasons; however, in some cases approval is granted without one. Contact EcoSave Coordinator for approval. For more information, please contact Carmen Proctor by calling 250-509-2021.

Generally, no, backyard burning is not allowed. At the discretion of the Fire Chief, however, a brief period of time may be opened up to the citizens to participate in a limited backyard burn, usually in spring. Intended to mitigate build-up of hard to remove fuel, it is not a guaranteed annual occurrence.

When backyard burning is allowed, citizens must come to the Fire Hall to apply for a temporary burn permit. Burning without a permit may result in a fine or a fee for service. Applicants must meet certain basic safety and burn material requirements prior to a permit being issued to an address. Once a permit has been issued, owners must call the fire hall prior to lighting their pile of yard debris. This helps establish if the day’s conditions are favourable for burning, and helps avoid the arrival of a fire truck to your address. There is a $10 fee for the permit, payable by cash or cheque at the fire hall.

Generally, fires outside a dwelling are not allowed in the city, including backyard campfires and backyard fireplaces. Camp fires are not permitted, nor are fires in “chimineas” and other portable fireplaces. The exceptions are CSA-approved appliances which have been cleared by the Fire Chief. To achieve this clearance, first ensure that the appliance bears the CSA mark of approval and then contact the fire hall.

Often the cause of these false alarms is spiders and insects in the detectors. Fruit flies are notorious for getting into the detectors. Use a vacuum to remove them. You may need to do this several times a year. For more information, please call 250-352-3103.

Fireworks are only permitted in the City of Nelson when used under the direction of a federally certified Display Fireworks Supervisor, and as permitted by the Fire Chief. Even the lighting small, family-sized fireworks is not allowed within city limits. In Nelson, fireworks have been known to cause serious personal harm and even house fires. If you want to see fireworks, Nelson's firefighters put on a professional show for the entire city's enjoyment every Canada Day (July 1st). For more information, please call 250-352-3103.

After regular work hours we answer the phones for certain City departments. If a call out to Public Works or Nelson Hydro is required, for instance, we dispatch them to the scene. In the case of Nelson City Police, when their phone lines are all in use the overflow is channeled to the fire hall's phones. For more information, please call 250-352-3103.

Check the Recruitment section of our site, or look for advertisements in the local newspapers. You are always welcome to call the fire hall at 250-352-3103 or come by to ask more questions about qualification requirements.

To have the electrical service at the address you are moving into transferred into your name, to have your account transferred from your existing location to the new location, or to close your account call a Nelson Hydro Customer Service Representative at 250-352-8206 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and apply to, or you can come directly to City Hall.

If terminating an account, please allow three working days' notice in advance of the date you want the service to cease. If the termination of service needs to involve removing electrical lines from a mobile home or building, please advise Nelson Hydro (the process may take longer).

Please note: An account is automatically terminated when an application for a new account is received from a new customer for that address. The registered customer is liable for all outstanding charges until the account is terminated. For more information, please call 250-352-8206.

Please provide as much advance notice as possible so that a meter reader can take readings at your old and new addresses and your closing and opening bills will accurately reflect your usage. Premises may be assumed to be vacant and subject to disconnection if we have not received an application for service. For more information, please call 250-352-8206.

Contact Nelson Hydro at 250-352-8240, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to apply for a new service or an upgrade. You will need to enlist the services of a licensed electrical contractor. Your contractor can call Nelson Hydro on your behalf, or you can call directly. All required permits and payments must be received by Nelson Hydro before connection can occur.

For first-time electrical service to a vacant lot, a site visit is necessary. Before any construction can begin, all permits, payments and required easements or rights-of-way must be in place.

Please note: Your legal land description can be found in the land title, mortgage papers or tax assessment information. If you rent the property, this information can be found on your lease agreement. Contact your landlord or check with City Hall if you are unable to find your legal land description.

Pre-Authorized Payment (PAP) from your bank account on the first or fifteenth of each month, customers can make payments based on actual usage, or an amount based on an average of consumption over the last twelve months

Through regular online banking

In person at City Hall

Don’t be left in the dark! If payments are not received on time, penalties will be applied. If your payment is not received within 30 days, you will receive an Overdue Notice with a penalty. If a payment has not been received after 45 days from the initial bill, a Disconnect Final Notice will be sent, which allows for payment to be made within 5 days. If payment is still not received at this point, service will be disconnected.

All City of Nelson Hydro meters are read bimonthly. With close to 10,000 meters in the city, the reading of the meters is done in cycles. The number of days in your billing period may vary based on these cycles. Each billing period will be roughly 60 days and you will receive your bill approximately one week after your reading has been taken. If you believe that there may be issues with your reading, please contact a Nelson Hydro Customer Service Representative at 250-352-8206, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All bills are based on consumption, whether estimated or actual. The time of year, daylight hours, weather conditions, the efficiency of appliances and the hot water temperature setting in your home calm all affect your bill. Being energy-savvy keeps cost down! Billing period can range from 30 to 60 days, depending on a number of factors. For more information, please call 250-352-8206.

Power outages may be planned for upgrades or repairs. planned power outages, Nelson Hydro makes every effort to notify customers through by telephone or door tag notifications.

Power outages may be caused by other circumstances, including wind and weather, animals, fire, or motor vehicle accidents. we are unable to notify customers in instances where the outage is out of our control. Flickering lights may be caused by close proximity if trees to power lines. If concerned, call Nelson Hydro.

Heat waves and other times of unusually high power demand can overload our equipment and cause an outage. Conserving energy at peak times is a great way to help!

First, verify that your whole house is out of power. You may have only blown a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker and need to check your service panel. Check to see if nearby streetlights are off, or find out if your neighbours are out of power.

If you have verified that the outage is not related to your own power source, turn off or disconnect any appliances you were using when the outage occurred. Leave one light on so you will know when power has been restored.

Trees sometimes pose a danger to power lines and to our customers, and Nelson Hydro maintains a three-metre clearance from primary distribution power lines for public safety by removing or trimming trees as necessary.

Nelson Hydro does not trim around service lines to homes, which is the customer’s responsibility. You can hire a licensed arborist, or you can do the work yourself. You must contact Nelson Hydro and communications companies (such as phone and cable) to drop the service lines while the work is being done. Contact Nelson Hydro 250-352-8240 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Downed or Dangling Lines

Stay at least 10 metres away from the downed power line. Watch for conductive materials like fences and secure the area. Do not touch or go near the wire; even if it is on the ground, it may still be live and could kill you. Contact Nelson Hydro (24-hour toll-free) at 877-324-9376 (877-32-HYDRO).

Electrical Substations & Warning Signs

Those warning signs are real! Nelson Hydro Substations contain high voltage equipment of up to 63,000 volts. Even much lower voltages can jump through the air and reach you. Contact with high voltage electricity can result in injury or death.

Anyone planning to excavate is required to contact BC One Call at least three working days before the excavation begins. You must also contact Nelson Hydro at 250-352-8240 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. More information is available at the Nelson Hydro page Locate Underground Services.

Every business within the city of Nelson is required to hold a valid business licence, including those that provide short-term accommodation. This licence must be renewed annually and can be applied for in-person at City Hall. Please consult the application forms above. A safety inspection of the premises will be required.

This depends on the type of STR rental that you are providing (guest room, guest suite or guest home) as well as the length of licence (annual, summer or 31 day). Please consult the application form and its fee schedule for more information.

Income tax is generally levied on secondary income. When someone offers four or more accommodation units for short-term rental, those sales will generally be subject to provincial sales tax and the 2% municipal and regional district tax. The provincial Strata Act may also come into effect in situations where a short-term rental unit is being offered in a strata property. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver offers a helpful article on the laws that short-term rentals are subject to in British Columbia.

Municipalities in British Columbia do not have the jurisdiction to create a sales tax. The 2% municipal and regional district tax (MRDT) is levied on hotel room visits by the provincial government. In Nelson and area any accommodation providing four units of accommodation or more for short-term rental is required to collect a 2% MRDT on all accommodation charges. This money is paid to the Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism agency and used exclusively for the purposes of marketing the region. The four-room requirement only applies if those rooms are serviced (i.e. have electricity). Any person who offers less than four units of accommodation or charges $30 or less per day is exempt. By this definition, not all short-term rental properties are subject to the MRDT. Only if one individual manages four or more units across British Columbia are they then required to collect the MRDT.

Property tax assessment is outside of a municipality’s authority. BC Assessment is responsible for assessing the tax required of each property in the province. BC Assessment may not be aware that commercial activity is taking place on a given property, especially if no business is registered at that address. Calculations are also based on the land-use regulations that apply to the property in question (i.e. residential or commercial) and whether it is used as a primary residence or not. For example, many bed and breakfasts are assessed as residential property.

This varies case by case. You are strongly advised to consult with a licensed insurance broker. Canadian media reports indicate that many residential insurance policies are void if commercial activities like short-term renting take place. This includes both property damage and liability insurance.

You are required to provide off-street parking for your short-term rental. The number of stalls is identified in the Off-Street Parking and Landscape Bylaw No. 3274, 2013.

If you cannot provide off-street parking stalls, you may also apply for a development permit variance. The fee for this is $500, and it includes notification to all landowners within 60 metres, a report to Council, and a decision of Council on the variance.

If you are renting a room in a home (a “roommate”) or an entire home, there are no restrictions, provided that the room is rented to one individual continuously for at least one month. Even if you use a short-term rental platform to rent the space, it is considered a long-term rental and is governed by the provincial Residential Tenancy Act. In the case of a secondary suite (a dwelling unit provided within and accessory to a single-detached dwelling unit), the secondary suite must be a legal suite.

You can visit our center, or make an appointment with one of our employment Counsellors. We determine if you are eligible to receive our services. You should bring the most recent version of your resume, your Social Insurance Number, and any information pertaining to your job search.

The General Minimum Wage in B.C. is $12.65/hour. The Liquor Server Minimum Wage for B.C. is $11.40/hour. Across Canada, there were estimated 1.25 million people earning minimum wage, or about 8 per cent of the country’s 15.3 million salaried employees in 2017. Nearly 60% of those earning minimum wage were youth between the ages of 15 and 24.

Full-time secondary or post-secondary students are not considered unemployed. The exception to this is Students with disabilities in their final year of high school or post-secondary education who require Program Supports to be able to find employment.

To access Employment Program of British Columbia (EPBC) services youth must meet the following criteria:

have left or have completed secondary or post-secondary schooling (except for students with disabilities as above);

are underemployed (working less than 20hrs/week)

are not planning on returning to public or post-secondary school, and

are transitioning into the workforce

However, everyone is welcome to use our self-service area and can access an Employment Counsellor for any employment related assistance.

The BC Employment Standards Branch website can give you answers to any questions you may have concerning work standards in BC: www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb. The closest branch office is at 310 Ward Street in Nelson, BC. or you can give them a call at 250-354-6550. If you have immediate concerns regarding employment, one of our Case Managers will be able to assist you.

No, you can come visit our center at 608 Lake street, and have full access to a printer, scanner and computer. We also assist individuals on a self-serve basis who are not wanting to or who are not eligible to become clients.

Yes, you absolutely can use our services! We can help you create or update your resume and cover letter, assist you in the job search and answer any questions that you have about employment. Our self-service area is open to you.